Walking and Biking In The Greater Bangor Area

By the year 2020, one area where Bangor can improve is to make the city safer for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. Bangor is host to some of the most dangerous intersections in the state that have led to numerous accidents. This summer, the city is making a promising move to improve pedestrian safety with a major infrastructure project that will improve parts of Main Street in downtown Bangor.

Improving walking safety in Bangor would be a promising step towards improving the city's overall livability. The web site Walk Score® rate and score cities across the country for their walking , biking and transit accessibility. According to the web site, "We believe that walkable neighborhoods with access to public transit, better commutes, and proximity to the people and places you love are the key to a happier, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle." Other factors that influence scores include population density, and road metrics such as block length and intersection density. New York, Boston and San Francisco all have walk scores above 75 which is defined as "very walkable." Cities with a comparable population in the region, like Burlington, VT and Fair Lawn, NJ, score as "somewhat walkable." Bangor’s relatively low score of 40 suggests a much greater dependence on car travel and labels Bangor a "Car-Dependent city." While population may appear to be the main factor, regional data tells a different story. Even though Bangor is Maine’s third-largest city, out of the ten most populated it ranks eighth in walkability.

This map highlights the ten most populated towns and cities in Maine. The number associated with each town is their walk score, which calculates how friendly that area is for walking. Brunswick came in with the highest score with a 91 out of 100. Bangor was on the lower end of the spectrum with a score of 40. Click other towns available to see their scores

For Bangor City Council chairman Ben Sprague, this is a pressing issue.

“I think our walkability is rather low,” Sprague said in an email interview. “There are a number of confusing intersections and there are not clear paths between key points in the City, such as Downtown and the Mall or Downtown and the Cross Center. We really need to improve this especially as more and more people consider living without a car.”

In a 2013 article for the International City/County Management Association, Elisabeth Berman found walkability to be a vital aspect of sustainability, writing, “One way that any area can cater to a healthier living initiative is to become more walkable.”

Cities such as Boston and New York are already working toward this, offering safe and secure ways of moving by foot. Bangor's plan to improve the safety of heavily-traveled streets such as Main Street is a path towards being a more pedestrian-friendly city. In the future, could a trail system allowing residents to walk, bike and run in spaces removed from deteriorating roads and heavy traffic be a possibility?

an idea for a new trail

Nearly fifty miles to the Northeast, Lincoln Town Manager William Lawrence briefly collaborated with Sprague this past February as both leaders hoped to find ways to bring younger people to the region. One promising idea that emerged was an intercommunity trail connecting the towns, which could improve recreation between both areas much like the Eastern Trail has done in Southern Maine.

Sprague believed the idea would benefit both towns. “It would be a neat idea if there were one trail connecting the two areas that could be used for running, biking and snowmobiling,” said Sprague.

Unfortunately, such a trail is not possible in the immediate future. “We may connect, but not during the 24 month period,” said Lawrence, referring to 2014 and 2015. However, attempts to connect Bangor with surrounding areas for outdoor recreation purposes, including trails, are currently being considered by others.

The Penobscot Valley Community Greenprint is teaming up with the Heart of Bangor trails in an effort to create more trails for the Bangor area. “One of the goals of the greenprint is to create a regional trail system,” said Lucy Quimby, the president of the Bangor Land Trust.

Quimby, like Sprague, believes that more trails would benefit Bangor’s population. “There are a lot of things Bangor could do with both the urban, paved trails and the more rustic woodland trails,” she said. “It’s all a matter of money.”

While Bangor has yet to expand its trails much beyond the city, Lincoln’s own local trail system is currently growing. The town has recently begun building a new trail after receiving a $17,000 grant and applying for another awarding $40,000.

“This is a two mile exercise trail for walking, running, biking, snowshoes, cross country skiing with exercise stations along the trail,” Lawrence said. “This will target all ages who have shown interest.”

Take a Bike Ride

This GoPro video highlights footage from a biking trip behind the Rec Center at the University of Maine. The trails you are seeing have heavy foot traffic throughout the entire year, and has increased the overall well-being of Orono, Maine.